The word “cheap” carries dual meanings. For someone on a tight budget, it means “affordability”. Conversely, it implies low-quality, turning an apparently economical purchase into a not-so-smart choice, epitomized by the adage “You get what you pay for”.

Regrettably, differentiating between an economical purchase and an item of negligible value is frequently challenging. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more true.

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” rings especially true. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not automatically going for the most expensive option. Customers need to recognize that important information is frequently excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They typically just amplify sound

Boosting the overall volume is generally the only thing cheap “hearing aids” are capable of. When you merely amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are undesirable background noise you don’t want.

If everything is louder, it entirely defeats the purpose of using a hearing aid.

Contrastingly, a high-quality, modern hearing aid goes beyond mere volume adjustment. It decreases background sound while skillfully managing sound and enhancing clarity. Real hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your specific hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

There are strict rules about what an advertiser can call a hearing aid as published by the Food and Drug Administration.

Regrettably, there are many devices out there that market themselves as hearing aids when they are technically personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named this because they can only amplify sound.

Most reputable companies follow the rules. But there are some vendors, especially online, that might be misinformed about what defines the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and consequently, they put out misleading claims about their products. Some even inaccurately advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

For most kinds of hearing loss they won’t be effective at all

The slow loss of hearing usually involves trouble hearing specific frequencies instead of a sudden complete loss. For instance, you might have no problems hearing a man with a low voice, but struggle with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it difficult to comprehend.

A cheap hearing device typically results in overall volume amplification. But just cranking up the total volume will not be adequate for individuals who have a hard time hearing specific frequencies. And turning up the overall volume could lead to additional damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t struggle with will be booming in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to boost particular frequencies providing a much better solution. They can instantly adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, providing a more customized and reliable hearing experience.

You might get a lot of feedback

Cheap hearing aids are typically not custom fit to your ears. A feedback loop is frequently the consequence of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it jiggles around. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.

They normally don’t have cellphone support

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth capability. When thinking about phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a significant hurdle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you try to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your lips or ears rubbing on the phone, or clothing and hair.

In contrast, digital hearing aids use telecoil or Bluetooth technology, establishing a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. Overall communication and clarity will be improved so you can be certain you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They’re not made for people with hearing loss

The majority of individuals would probably be surprised by this. PSAPs were never made for people with hearing loss. They were designed to help people who have relatively good hearing hear things a little louder.

Cheap devices might help a little if you only have slight hearing loss. But people who actually need hearing aids won’t find these cheaper devices that useful.

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

Obtaining affordable quality hearing aids isn’t hard. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing options. If you suspect you have hearing loss, begin by getting checked out. Make an appointment with us so we can help you find the best and most affordable hearing aids for your level and type of hearing loss.

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